Griswold’s Kirchhoff signs with Morningside

 GRISWOLD — Griswold guard Kayla Kirchhoff knew instantly where she wanted to go.

After making one visit to Morningside College in Sioux City last summer, Kirchhoff found her school for the next four years.

“I had no idea where I wanted to go, but after my first visit, I knew that was the place for me,” Kirchhoff said.

Kirchhoff made it official by signing her letter of intent to play basketball for the Morningside Mustangs next season at an announcement last Tuesday at Griswold High School.

Kirchhoff was joined at the signing by her parents, Michelle and David, as well as Griswold girls basketball coach Jeff Koenck and athletic director Kevin Whitehill.

Kirchhoff is eager to take on the fast-paced level of basketball Morningside plays.

“With Mr. Koenck being our coach, we have tried to enforce a fast-paced game and I think that will help us once I get to college,” she said. 

Kirchhoff has played all four years for the Griswold girls basketball program. In her senior season, Kirchhoff led the team in assists with 2.5 per game and was third in scoring with 6.9 points per game.

In 82 career games for Griswold, Kirchhoff has scored 414 points, had 143 assists and 120 steals.

The Mustangs put together an incredible run for the 2014-2015 season. The team went 37-1, eventually going on to win the NAIA Division II National Championship game when they defeated Concordia 59-57. Morningside plays in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Kirchhoff said she will study nursing at Morningside.